Top security chiefs from Kenya’s Northeastern
attend the 50th Madaraka Day in Garissa town,
about 330 kilometers north east of Nairobi.
Xinhua

XinhuaFriday, June 07, 2013

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Kenya’s northern region on Monday warned of an impending attack in Garissa County by Al- Shabaab as the militants paraded Kenyans prisoners, believed to be Kenyans kidnapped in late May after a cross-border raid.

Area lawmaker Mohamed Dahire who led other area legislators said there are widespread fears even among the police officers and the residents living along the border with Somalia where the armed militiamen were moving around freely.

“It’s unfortunate that the situation has gone from bad to worse with even security officers in the area relaxed to do the job they need proper security apparatus,” Dahire said in Garissa town.

His warning comes after the militants on May 25 attacked two police bases in the northern region, about 35 km from the border with Somalia, killing six people including two police officers.

The attack claimed by the insurgents has left two police officers missing.

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said last week that more security forces have been deployed in the porous border to help contain the cross border killings after the attack that targeted two police posts near Liboi in the border.

The Garissa leaders warned the security agents to take seriously widespread rumors that heavily armed remnants of Al- Shabaab were roaming in the county to plan another attack.

During last month’s cross border raid, Al-Shabaab killed two police officers, three civilians and kidnapped another two police officers and made away with an unknown number of guns.

Dahiye said that teaching staff and other government officials including Kenya Revenue Authority personnel in the area had fled due to insecurity.

His sentiments were echoed by Garissa Governor Nathif Jama Adam and County Commissioner Harun Khator Rashid who urged the locals to cooperate and volunteer information to the security agents so as to eradicate the menace.

The leaders noted that security was paramount to any development to be achieved in the region and called by residents to tip the security agencies and inform them of anything that would help.